Bedbugs are a big issue for households across America, and many different places within a home offer great breeding conditions for bedbugs. There are steps you can take to get rid of bedbugs, including bedbug extermination, but there are also ways to keep these insects from multiplying out of control. Here are a few tips that can help prevent bedbugs or limit their spread.

What Are Effective Bedbug Prevention Methods?

1. Store Clothing in Vacuum-Sealed Bags During Travel

Bedbugs are most commonly found in and transferred from hotels. Buy standard vacuum-sealed clothing bags and store your clothing in them while traveling to make them less accessible to bedbugs and other pests. This will help keep bedbugs from coming home from the hotel with you. You can also put seasonal fabric and clothing in the vacuum-sealed bags for storage when you aren't traveling.

2. Cover Power Outlets

Bedbugs often use power outlets to avoid getting exterminated. They will climb into the holes of the power outlet and hide until it's safe to move somewhere else. In severe bedbug infestation cases, bedbugs can travel through walls using electrical outlets, which spreads the bedbug infestation to other areas of a business or home.

3. Identify Signs of Bedbugs

Educate your family about bedbug infestation signs and how to identify bedbug bites. Bites are usually small, itchy red marks that appear in rows. Knowing what these bedbug bites look like will allow you to identify the issue earlier and seek out help right away. You can also identify a bedbug infestation by spotting their droppings, which appear as dark-colored dots.

4. Vacuum Flooring Regularly

Bedbugs aren't just found in and around beds. They can also hide in the carpet, so regularly vacuum your carpets to eliminate any bedbugs hiding there. Also, vacuum any box springs, mattresses, and areas where walls and floors meet. After vacuuming, remove the bag, place it in a sealed trash bag, and throw it in an outdoor garbage can to keep the bedbugs from escaping and returning to your home.

If you want to learn more about bedbug extermination and prevention, turn to Bugout Termite & Pest Control Inc. in Glen Burnie. This full-service pest control company is part of the Maryland and National Pest Control Associations and has been dedicated to quality customer service throughout the Baltimore metro area since 1988. They offer a range of services, from bedbug extermination to termite control. Visit the website to learn more, or call (410) 760-6065 to speak with a team member.